Comments on: Breaking it Down: UFC 144 (MAIN CARD)http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/02/24/breaking-it-down-ufc-144-main-card/
Your Destination for Insider MMA News and OpinionMon, 25 Apr 2016 03:51:00 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.7By: Dufresnehttp://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/02/24/breaking-it-down-ufc-144-main-card/#comment-203409
Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:24:24 +0000http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=55492#comment-203409Pettis/Lauzon on most cards would be a lock for fight of the night, but since Edgar/Henderson is on this one I don’t think they’ll get it here. I’m picking Pettis via decision.

I wasn’t impressed by Hioki’s last performance at all. I was very impressed with Bartimus in his last outing, so I’m picking Bart via TKO.

As much as I like Boetsch, I think LeBeau hit it on the head when he said Okami is exactly the fighter that Boetsch dropped to middleweight to avoid . Okami via decision.

In a fight between two of the most hyped fighters to enter the UFC who haven’t lived up to the hype at all, I’ve got Shields via decision. Even though I’m hoping I’m wrong.

If Kongo stays standing with Hunt he has a puncher’s chance, and that’s about it. I don’t see him landing another surprise KO like he did against Barry. And even if he does blast Hunt, I don’t think he’ll stop him in one shot. Hunt has a head like an armored car. Kongo’s best shot is to put Hunt on his back and use his nasty GnP to finish the fight. And I think that’s exactly what he’ll do. Kongo via TKO.

I was impressed by Bader on TUF, but since then I’ve been pretty disappointed. It took him 3 rounds to drop Glassjaw Jardine and he was getting beat on the feet by Lil’ Nog so he secured a win via Lay-n-Pray. I don’t think he’ll be able to get Rampage to the mat and will be forced to stand with him, which I think will result in him waking up to a flashlight.

This has to be the favorite to win fight of the night. I’ve picked against Edgar in all of his title fights so far, and I’ve been wrong every time so far. But 5th time’s the charm, right? I think Henderson has better cardio than anyone else Edgar has to face, so he should be able to at least keep up with him for most of the fight. Henderson also has the most diverse striking out of anyone Edgar’s faced so far. Both BJ and Maynard are primarily boxers while Henderson throws a lot more kicks and knees. And while those may open him up to a takedown, Henderson seems to be submission proof and incredibly difficult to keep on the ground. I see Henderson getting taken down and securing a guillotine choke to finish the fight in the early rounds. Henderson via submission.

Agree or Disagree: 00

]]>By: superdavenorcalhttp://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/02/24/breaking-it-down-ufc-144-main-card/#comment-203407
Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:22:53 +0000http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=55492#comment-203407bart vs Hioki goes exactly as MCM said…Bart may be inconsistent but Hioki straight sucked against Roop. If he fights like that Bart will sub him and shock the world.

I would love to see Boestch batter Yushin and I think he just might. Okami isnt used to looking at people bigger than him and The Barbarian is a strong wrestler AND has huge power….Yushin might just be in trouble for once.

Kongo vs Hunt could go either way on the feet. While Logic makes a good point about Hunt havin insane KO power and great standup Kongo KO’d Pat Barry while on the run….Pat Barry is a more flashy and less flabby Mark Hunt who’s learning submission defense. I believe Kongo will drive him to the cage knee him in the balls, grab his shorts and take him down and provided he doesnt get caught or the fight isnt stopped, he’ll then shoot the takedown and gnp Hunt into the mat. What would a kongo fight be without a low blow or two?

Akiyama will either tko jake early or Jake will sub him in the second. Akiyama has been submitted by lesser grapplers than Jake and he gasses quick at MW. I see a couple sick grappling exhanges before Shields gets the sweep, the mount and the sub.

I stand by my notion about Bader not being able to withstand a Rampage hook to the jaw. Can he win? Sure but I just dont see it.

Im takin Ben to win the belt. The big question is can Frankie keep Ben off of him long enough to get into his boxing rythm or will Ben muscle him around? Both guys have insane cardio, Frankie has the upperhand in striking and Ben in grappling but both are great everywhere. I see a Ben Henderson decision but either way I see an awesome fast paced fight.

Agree or Disagree: 00

]]>By: MMA-LOGIChttp://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/02/24/breaking-it-down-ufc-144-main-card/#comment-203396
Sat, 25 Feb 2012 11:00:53 +0000http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=55492#comment-203396If Kongo stands, which he wont, he has a far higher chance of losing. In fact I think he will lose if he stands with Hunt. That 6 fight losing streak you are talking about, well 5 losses were on the ground. All of his wins were on the feet and all but 1 of his losses were on the ground. Now think a little, how would you go about fighting a K1 champion that has won all of his fights on the feet and all of his losses but 1 have come on the ground? Rich thinks standing with him is the go.

Agree or Disagree: 00

]]>By: Richard Stabonehttp://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/02/24/breaking-it-down-ufc-144-main-card/#comment-203385
Sat, 25 Feb 2012 05:53:43 +0000http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=55492#comment-203385Hunt has faced better strikers… about a decade ago. But as of now he’s an old, mostly washed up fighter who isn’t far removed from a 6-fight losing streak. Kongo can look brilliant one bout only to look incompetent the next, but he takes this one fairly easily. The finish may come on the ground, but it’ll be striking-based domination in some type of form.

I wanted to believe, and did for a while, that Bendo would beat Frankie. But as this event drew closer reality set in for me and I cannot see Frankie losing. Probably a decision, but finishing Maynard is more difficult than finishing Bendo so I wouldn’t rule it out.

I like Lauzon but he’s overmatched here. Pettis is one of the more underappreciated fighters in MMA today. This matchup should be a nice opportunity for him to showcase his abilities.

Rampage has been on the decline for a while. His time away from fighting to make a silly movie could have conceivably given him a break, to allow his body to rejuvenate, but at his age & with his level of discipline I think it did just the opposite. Bader was always overrated, so I think Rampage takes care of him, but it might be an ugly decision a la Page’s victory over Hamill.

I view the Akiyama-Shields fight as more of a coin flip. Sexy’s age & drop in weight worry me, but I think the betting line is way more tilted towards Shields than it should be.

And I think the betting line is out of wack on Okami-Boetsch also, but it’ll probably be another decision victory for Yushin.

Plenty of intriguing matchups though… hopefully will be a fun card.

Agree or Disagree: 00

]]>By: MMA-LOGIChttp://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/02/24/breaking-it-down-ufc-144-main-card/#comment-203379
Sat, 25 Feb 2012 04:34:38 +0000http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=55492#comment-203379Kongo will be trying to wrestle hunt from the first bell, if he doesnt Hunt will KO Kongo. Hunt has fought far better strikers and won. If Kongo is silly enough to strike he will go down or at least his chances of losing are increased twenty fold.

Agree or Disagree: 00

]]>By: MCMhttp://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/02/24/breaking-it-down-ufc-144-main-card/#comment-203362
Sat, 25 Feb 2012 02:13:28 +0000http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=55492#comment-203362Bartimus takes this one in a hard fought Dec where he keeps it on the feet and just bashes Hioki for 3 rounds.
I think Akiyama is gonna surprise a lot of people too and finish Jake in the 2nd. Or Jake gets the sub in the 2nd. I can’t pick.
Everyone is underestimating Bader and I think that fight goes the distance.
Bendo takes the belt too.